The Ugly Duckling to the lake of wonder

The world is a big lake.Much wider more broad than the shallow pond.


School is the first stair to take a sip.Teachers are the God and Gurdian of that mystery Island.Who shows you the right path...guide you where you want to reach.
The world was a mystery to Surya.Something she never experienced.Something she never knew.Someone she never thought she could trust.Some people she never thought she could ever depend on.

But they are there.Who talks gently with her.Protects her ,purifies her.A world of perfection.A world of charmers.A world where magics are created every often.Makes her learn what she never knew .

She looks at them with admiration and honour.The most beautiful people of her small world.Who tells stories.Who opens a door of an unknown world.Where you can be anything you want.

A tale of hands

School.What is that?

Why do people go there?

What's in the mystery box of that unknown institute?Away from the home.Apart from the world Surya knows.What is gonna happen if she goes there?

The first day of school is like a thousand words question book to her.

Why am I going to school?

Will you come to pick me up?

Will you remember me after leaving me in the school?

Will you not for get me?

She can't trust the new building filled up with those mysterious people,whom she doesn't know.She looks around her.A boy runs away .Someone makes sound''Fight!Fight!'' .Some are on the seesaw.Playing.Some comes near to her .Touches her cuddly cheek.''Hi cutey!''She tries to blow them.Gets more sacred.Holds Shama's hand more harder.So that she can't leave her in this  unknown world of aliens.

Shama takes her to a lady.But she knows if she let Shama's hand go now,may be that will be the last day to see her again. May be the last chance to go back to home.How can she leave Shama's hand.Her eyes get filled up with water,when Shama says ''Go to your class.''What is the meaning of  this mysterious thing called ''class''?Why she has to go there?

Shama shakes her hand .Tries to loose Surya's hand.She is getting late for her class.She must go now.Must leave Surya.Her friends are waiting for her.

But Surya doesn't want to go apart from her elder sister.The only link now, who can take her home.Home.How can someone go away from that?If she leaves her now will she come back?Does anyone comes back when they leave us?It was a world at her home.Like a bunch.Like the seeds in a fruit.Although not same ,not united.But still it was surrounded by the same flesh and blood.The all who were there every day and night.Who were beside her from the day she opened her eyes.Now how come a day come ,when you have to let them go?

Her tear drops starts falling..She can't stop.What wrong she has done?She ponders.But can't ask.Just tells''Don't leave me Shamma.''But Shamma doesn't listen to her.Although she promises that she will  come back to see her on the break.Although she promises that Mom will come to pick her up from the school.But the little child can't understand that.

The Lady with a big smile and lots of makeup takes her to a room.She looks like the wicked witch to Surya at first.The one who takes her away from her sister.She promises that,whatever this lady is gonna do,she will never like her.

The room is filled with toys and colours.With a group of tiny people just like her in the aliens world.Came here to explore.Came here to learn.Face the first lesson of life.''We have to go.We have to leave our love ones.Our past for the future.Like the running water we can't hold them.We can't be with them forever.''

She looks at the Lady.Who introduces herself as the Teacher.Suddenly her face turns beautiful.Just like an angel from the Fairy Tale.Surya starts loving the new place.The new world.The new angel of her life.Her Teacher.

Three little daughters

After 3 months long tour,today he is going to home.Home sweet home.

Who could ever thought an orphan like him can ever build up a family? All those days. Living in someone else’s home. Sharing all those with strangers and making them families. All those moments of struggle and sorrows. Life was  harsh on him. In fact too harsh. When he got his sense he was alone. Like someone dropped him on the surface and lost forever. His  parents. He lost all ,before knowing what he had. Life was cruel to him. Its not easy for an orphan to survive. But he survived. Got proper education. Though lots of people can’t…….but he did that. Got a good job. Married to a woman of an wealthy family. Now he has his own family. His family. He bought lots of gifts for them .Dresses, toys, chocolates, color boxes, hair clips and bands even pendants for the girls.

The journey seems like a infinite one. As it doesn’t stop. The plain is going like a turtle. He gets restless. When he is gonna see his family. His lovely wife and the  beautiful daughters.

At last plain arrived. He took a cab and rushed to his home. Home sweet home. Before even knocking the door…..it gets open. All his daughters. They saw their Dad from the Balcony. Where they were standing and waiting for him for almost 2-3 hours.’’Daddyyyyyyyyyyy………’’ Girls runs to him and gives him a big hug. He kisses each of them back. Hama the elder one.Sreya….the 2^nd one……….and …..Surya! Just then he remembers.’’O no!’’ 

When all settle down. Girls start searching for their gifts,’’What did you bring for us Dady?” they ask.’’Where is our gifts?’’Dady shows the bag’’Their.’’Though he feels a bit down.

Shama unpacks the gifts.Dady brought lots of things.Sreya and Surya also seat their and wait to see their gifts.Dady brought two lovely Salwar Kameez for  Shama and Sreya.2 boxes of colour,2 pendants,2 hair bands,2 big boxes of chocolates,2 big dolls and 2 toys……Surya looks at the gifts. With lots of patience. The bag gets empty very soon.

Dady searches something for Surya in his bag. Can’t understand how did he forgot about the little one???He gets a Radio set. The  radio ,which Surya got in a competition. Which one he took to his work and used it.Dady feels terrible. Promises to himself next time when he will go for a  long tour , he will make sure to take a group photo of her 3 daughters. Specially one of the younger one.

 Looks at the child. She is still with her smile……..which is dimming slowly…….

The reborn

Life is not about winning and loosing.Its about enjoying the winning,as well as with loosing.

Surya !Little Surya.She is not little any more.Nor got that cute little moony face.She is 4 now.Stronger.More talkative and a bit daring.She doesn't care much about all most anything.Argues for everything.Not at all like her elders.As these days Daddy gets more busy with his work and the family is getting more fortune.Mom has to give more time at home.Half of her energy goes off to control this little devil.


She is more naughty and more carefree.With that these days some how she is turning into Dady's favorite.He really enjoys this naughty wild daughter.Well! It's better to call a boy.She is everything but not a girl.Sometimes she reminds him of his childhood.He was an orphan by birth.Didn't got the chance to see his Mom.As she died to give him birth.His Dad was dead long before his world was even started to spin.


Sometimes Daddy pampers Surya a bit more.Well! Does she cares about scolding??She doesn't.More like a tornado or Tsunami in this little calm home.He feels funny.This girl is totally a blunder in the name of girl.


There will be a poem recitation competition very soon.Momma is preparing Shama for that..Soon they are gonna call Shama.Surya is standing and watching her big sister.The way she is practicing the poem.The way Mom is helping her.


Then the time comes.Announcer calls once,twice...........but Shama gets scared..Can't go up.Her throat turns dry.''Mom let me go.'' Says Surya.Mom falls from the sky.''What will you do there? What will you tell there?''The organizer gets impatient.''OK! OK let her in.Everyone is waiting.Don't create scene now.''


Surya goes up.Confident and her daring nature is her biggest strength.For the first time this unruly girl steps on the stage.She already memorized the  poem by seating beside Shama.


Surya appears on the stage.Tells her first poem.Mom looks at that girl ..........like someone she doesn't know or never saw.And thinks ,''Is this the daughter I gave birth to?''

A piece of heart

She shines.She cries.She smiles when the morning is rising.

Its the baby at home.A cute lil baby.She doesn't got a name.But her elder sister who is only 7,calls her''Srya'';As its not her age to know what is the difference between a Jungle and City,Girl and boy.So she just keeps calling her ''Surya''.

Mom doesn't feel to take care of her.Or she doesn't got time.She got a new job just after her birth.Dady got a promotion.Now he can decide his shifts.So at morning she goes for work and he stays at home to look after her.She is the doll for the elder sister.As she is cute,doesn't cry much.........but just when she is hungry.But thats not too hard to.Just take some powder milk and shake them in a feeder of warm water.Her food is ready.Its fun.But cleaning her..........its a disaster.Dady does that.

She looks at the birds singing.........looks at the world around her.With her tiny hand she wants to hold all the things around her.Mumma's hand,Sister's hair and Papa's finger.At her world these are the things that matters.She knows only who are around her.

Mom comes home at afternoon.Serves food.Then take her one.Her second daughter comes to her.Gives her a big hug.Comparing to all her other daughters,this one is a bit sick. Skinny and not good looking.She feels a bit guilt for this daughter.As when she got pregnant and was trying to be .......she didn't gave much time to her.She never got breast milk.With less love and care she has turned into a sick child.Momma hugs her back.Her neglected daughter.Looks at the 3rd one,who is playing with the elder one.........thinks''For this one I've neglected Shama.Thought it'll be a boy! But she is another daughter.''

Feels frustrated and cheated.When she was on her final month of pregnancy..........her father died.But she didn't went to see her sick Dad or didn't even attend the ''Death Ceremony''.For the sake of  her.Not her,as she was expecting a son instead of this one.But this gal born as a cheater.The baby cries.That means she is hungry again.Mom stares at her.Another trouble.Another cheater..

Birth of a little moon

That was a day of excitement in the family.Everyone is waiting for him.The boy of the family.Someone who will carry the name of the family.Someone whom they will call ''Son''.

A name has been fixed up for him.A very good one ''Surya''.........which means Sun.A Sun who will shine up the name of the family.

The Father of the family,who is already a Dad of 2 daughters bought special new clothes for the new born kid.Though its out of reach for the family.As the earning is limited.He got a job ,she works too.But maintaing two kids at a time and this 3rd one is a bit hard for them.But now as it must be a boy,he doesn't care about the money anymore.
At last a son is coming.They heard it from the elders that usually after the two daughters son borns.Even they check their second daughter's tongue.....which is pointed and got a bit like snake ....means son is coming.


Meanwhile in the clinic Mother is in labour.Though she is suffering from extremepain,but she is happy.She had a dream of snake when her first daughter was born.In her dream  she beat the snake away.Then her Mother in Law told her if she didn't do that and let the snake bite her........it would have been a boy.


But this time she had a dream of ''Lotus''.Which means good luck.That means son.Nurse is telling again and again to ''Push!'' At  last she gave the final push and heard the cry.A baby is born.Finally a son.
She smiled to herself.''At last I'm a mother of a son''.Felt proud to be a mother.A mother of a son.The nurse took the baby and wipe it.Then wrapped the baby in a towel and came close to the mother.''Look at her,What a beautiful daughter.Just like a full moon.She is soo  pretty''.

''Daughter!'' Just this beat on her ear.No ,not again.She looked back.Tried to stop her anger,sadness and tears.But the nurse didn't give up.''Come on take your baby.Just look at her she is so pretty.Like a fool moon.''

Then the mother looked at her.Yah! Its true .Certainly she is a beautiful baby.Strong and fair.

Meanwhile at the outside.The father was waiting anxiously.The Doctor came and like the Death verdict she announced him''You got a daughter.''

''Daughter!'' Not again.What will the neighbours and relatives think of him.Having another daughter for the third time.He felt frustrated.He didn't wait to look at her even.Why will he???A girl who is the missery of the parents.A girl who is the disturbance of the society.Who wants her.A burden.A trouble.

He went straight back to home.His two daughters came to him.''Papa Papa where is our little brother.''He couldn't say a word for a moment.He took some rice and put those in a bowl to wash.Again the elder daughter asked,''Papa how is our brother?When we are gonna see him?''She is excited to have brother.Last time it was a sister ,now she too wants a brother.But the 2nd one is not much excited.In fact she is a bit worried.As if the new baby comes at home her parents may not love her any more.Specially if its a brother she has no chance at all.

Father is sad.Like the world and the sky fall on his head.At last he opened his mouth.''Shumi(his 1st daughter).Again you got a sister.''A silence .Shumi couldn't say a thing after looking at her father.How sad is he!Shama the 2nd one felt a bit happy.As there is less competetion now.For dreaming about this boy,Mom stopped taking care of her.Dad brought lots of good toys for the unborn kid.Now it'll be her.

At afternoon when Dad finally got his sadness a bit less.Took the new expansive clothe and with his elder daughter went to the clinic to see the 3rd one.That nurse is still standing there.She is playing with the baby.''How cute this baby is .''She saw the Papa.''Hey! Mr.! Look at your daughter.Isn't she pretty?''For the first time he took her in his lap.Its true.She is pretty.For the first time of the day he smiled a bit.

The Nurse asked.''What are you gonna call this baby?''

"Don't know.We never wanted another daughter in our family.''Said the mother.Still sad.Thinking why this unwanted kid needs a name.She is just another burden of the society.Another girl.Another trouble.